Sipadan

I was so thrilled when i knew that i was invited to help my colleague in Semporna, Sabah for their temperature monitoring work to oversee the impact of climate change to our reef. And guess what, the trip happened on the 1st week of January 2016! What a way to start my new year :)

We dive at 8 islands and one of it is Sipadan Island. I am known to stay in the water while others go hiking and I beg my officers back then during Uni days to allow me too! hahahah. Well , ever since I started my master course, I have make a secret wish to myself, which I wanted to go to places while doing research as I felt it bring more purpose and I can learn as much as I can. I've been blessed that I went to Japan for my attachment (i'll tell the story later aaa :) ) and now diving in Sipadan!

From 18m looking above view

             There are few types of coral reef area, fringing reef which extends from the land, atoll reef which is a ring-shaped coral reef - enclosing a shallow lagoon and Sipadan is a Barrier reef area which running parallel to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water.  By means that, it have a drop-off reef. Imagining you are climbing down from 18 storeys building and how shaky can your knee felt that time right?!! I was confused at the first time and trying to figure out how am I going to descend with my buddies , because when i look below me, I swore, that I was damn scared and nervous seeing the beautiful-deep blue-cant see bottom ocean surrounding me. But upon seeing all my colleague have started to descend to their respective depth, I said to myself , " You better put yourself together and YOU CAN DO THIS! " . Literally I was keep on reciting Al-Fatihah and Ayatul Qursi to calm myself down.  

1st stage, Going down,  I passed! 2nd obstacles is that there are strong current when we tried to head to our loggers (an equipment they planted among the reefs). I have to positioned my body streamline and have to think smart and carefully finning and following our dive master, if not i can cramp up my leg and can easily swept away by the current. White tip sharks came to say Hi to me and I am not bluffing when I said to them in my heart , " Please don't kacau me cuz I'm busy right now" Ahaahah. I know. Sound stupid but it actually work. From the past experience diving or swimming in the ocean, we must set our heart straight and remember there are millions of God's creation under there and we need to respect them and let them know (by chanting in your heart :D) that you are there for a good purpose :) ) .

Sleepy-old woman/female Turtle and sure I need to kacau her. Kidding :D

At the end when we finished our work and all went up to the boat , the first word that came from my mouth was "Damn Scary weh!" and I even wrote a note on my sled board "Sipadan, you make me star struck " because it was a beautiful-scary-fun dive. 

What about your dive experience? Mind sharing with me by commenting on the comment below yeah! :) 

Love, 

Naja